089. Lotus Root Feast

Having won the verbal battle at the morning court, Rongse was in a very good mood and even felt much better. On the way back home, he passed by the market and saw an old farmer selling pears and lotus roots, so he ordered his men to buy them all and bring them back home.

There were several baskets of pears and lotus roots piled in the stove room, but the servants in the palace were no longer surprised by these things and were just guessing what the prince was going to do today.

As soon as Rong Se entered the kitchen, he saw that Uncle Liu had washed the lotus roots and pears and placed them on a clean winnowing basket.

"Your Majesty." Uncle Liu bowed as soon as he saw someone coming, and said with a smile, "What are you going to cook today? Do you want to peel the lotus roots and pears?"

"Peel the lotus roots, but not the pears." Rong Se went forward to check whether the pear skins were washed clean. He picked up one and looked at it while saying, "Eat some of the lotus roots today, and make lotus root powder with the rest. These pears will be used to make autumn pear paste. Uncle Liu, have someone cut all the pears into shreds, and peel and chop the lotus roots."

Liu Bohao agreed: "Okay!"

"Wait." Rong Se touched his chin and suddenly said, "Yesterday I saw you soaking glutinous rice?"

Uncle Liu nodded and said, "I want to make sweet glutinous rice cakes today."

"Give it to me." Rong Se had an idea in his mind and picked out a few lotus roots of appropriate shape and size from the washed lotus roots.

After keeping the lotus roots he wanted, Rong Se handed the rest to Liu Bo and the others to deal with.

The remaining lotus roots had been washed clean. Rong Se used a knife to cut off the lotus root knots and peeled them skillfully, revealing the snow-white lotus roots inside. He left four intact ones and chopped the rest into small pieces and temporarily placed them on a porcelain plate.

Next came the cleaned pork. Qiangzhou was close to the grassland and had herds of cattle and sheep, which would pay tribute to the capital every year. Therefore, the Jin Dynasty did not have any regulations prohibiting the eating of working oxen, and there was no shortage of pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks and geese.

Rongse selected two large pieces of lean pork and started chopping them on the chopping board. Even with his two hands alternating, he had only chopped a quarter of the pork.

"My Lord, are you tired?"

Just then Liang Shenyu's voice came from behind.

Rong Se put down the knife and began to flex his wrists, helplessly saying, "There are too many people eating, and if we don't make enough, there won't be enough to eat. Why didn't you go to the camp today?"

"You don't have to go every day. I'm afraid the capital is not peaceful these two days, so I won't leave the city." Liang Shenyu supported Rong Se's waist and pushed the man away. Then he took the knife and chopped the stuffing for Rong Se. "Just chop it into pieces?"

Rong Se nodded slightly.

There has never been peace in the capital, it just looks calm on the surface. Rong Se knew that Liang Shenyu stayed in the mansion to guard against the Xi family and Rong Jing.

He looked at Liang Shenyu, whose knife struck the chopping board with great frequency and regular sound. He could not help but marvel at the strength of Liang Shenyu's wrists. Then he remembered that Liang Shenyu's hands were used to hold swords and kill enemies.

But now I'm here helping him cut vegetables.

So I laughed softly.

Liang Shenyu turned around, his dark eyes as warm as jade, "What's wrong? Why are you so happy?"

Rongse shook his head lightly, but his hands were not idle. He mixed the soaked glutinous rice with brown sugar, then cut off the top of the whole lotus root to make a lotus root cover, and put the glutinous rice mixed with brown sugar into the hollow heart of the lotus root little by little.

"I was just thinking, Master Hou's hands, doing these things in the kitchen is really a waste of nature's gifts."

Rong Se's tone was slightly teasing.

"Really?"

Liang Shenyu was calm as always. After asking lightly, he said seriously, "Your Majesty is right. It is better for me to use my hands on the couch. But what do you mean?"

He spoke so frankly that Rong Se didn't even react for a moment. After a moment, a deep blush spread across her face and neck.

Liang Shenyu didn't hold back, he leaned close to Rong Se's ear and whispered with a smile: "Bare hands——" He paused for a moment, and continued the second half of the sentence in a low voice, like an ambiguous whisper: "...Not enough?"

Rong Se felt his cheeks burning, and he opened his lips several times before he managed to utter a warning dryly: "Liang San!"

"I'm here." Liang Shenyu responded in a seemingly good-tempered manner.

Rong Se was irritated by these playful words. He felt embarrassed and annoyed, and glared at them fiercely.

"Stop talking so much, just chop the meat."

Liang Shenyu loved to see him when he was shy. His already beautiful brows seemed to show shame and anger, which made him look so charming. But he himself was completely unaware of it. He didn't know how bewitching that expression was.

"Yes, sir—"

With Liang Shenyu's help, the meat stuffing was quickly chopped. The glutinous rice lotus root was already in the pot, and the water just covered the lotus root. Red dates, brown sugar and dried osmanthus were added. While the fire was on, the meat stuffing was divided into two portions. One portion was put into a white porcelain gilded square plate with the lotus root, mixed well, added a little water, and steamed in the pot after adding oil. The other portion was put into a basin with the lotus root, and three eggs and soy sauce, salt and other seasonings were added and mixed evenly. Rong Se clenched a handful, pinched it with his thumb and thumb, and squeezed out a round and delicate little meatball, which was put into the oil pan, and bubbles rolled out immediately.

The lotus root balls are the first to come out of the pot, filling a large pot with a golden color. Then the brown sugar glutinous rice lotus root is taken out, sliced ​​and placed on a plate, and the sticky brown sugar osmanthus soup is poured in. The aroma of osmanthus mixed with the sweetness of red dates and sugar spreads.

The remaining lotus root cubes were used to make a large pot of light lotus root and egg drop soup. The last dish to come out of the pot was the glutinous rice meat cakes, which were steamed in three large plates. After coming out of the pot, they were sprinkled with green scallions for garnish, and the three lotus root-based dishes were ready.

More and more stools were placed in Jinshanxuan. At first, there was only the Regent Prince, and then it increased from the Yun brothers and Lan Ying to the Marquis of Dingbei, and now there is Xuan and the eldest princess.

Although Rong Zhixu was weak, his condition was not so serious that he could not stay at the palace. He just felt a little restrained in the Regent Palace. He went to Jinshanxuan to meet Rong Se and Liang Shenyu, and politely greeted them, "Uncle, Marquis."

"Sit down." Rong Se waved his hands, "No need to be polite in the mansion, look at her."

Rong Se raised his chin to Lan Ying.

The little girl had already sat down in her seat carelessly, and waved to Rong Zhixu, "Sit here, sit here, sit next to me."

Rong Zhixu had been under strict etiquette when he was in the Empress's palace, and he dared not act recklessly when he arrived at the Xi family. He felt like he was walking on thin ice every day, and for a while he was not quite used to the easy-going atmosphere in the Regent's Palace.

I was surprised, but more of a loss.

Last night, Lan Ying talked to her about the Regent's deeds for half the night, and it was almost dawn before they fell asleep on the same couch. In fact, she had just woken up. Rong Zhixu felt that she was still in a dream, and when she came to her senses, she had already sat next to Lan Ying.

Rong Zhixu was a little dazed, and when he saw Yun Chu sitting down naturally and just nodded as a greeting, he was shocked for a moment.

None of this makes sense.

Today's table of lotus roots is heat-clearing and nourishing. Liang Shenyu never criticizes Rong Se's cooking skills, after all, even hard dry food is good on the battlefield. But every time he tries a new dish, he can't help but be surprised.

Brown sugar glutinous rice lotus root, the lotus root is refreshing and slightly sweet, the glutinous rice is sweet and soft, with the sweet fragrance of osmanthus. The steamed lotus root meat cake is also fragrant, even with meat, it is not greasy at all, the small meatballs are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, paired with lotus root diced egg drop soup, although light, but also full of flavor, unlike the soup in the hands of the palace chef Yu, which is so bland that it tastes like boiled water.

Liang Shenyu couldn't help but whisper in Rong Se's ear: "It's over. In the past, a little bit of meat and fish was enough when marching, but now roasted pheasants and rabbits are probably as tasteless as chewing wax."

Rong Se has always been proud of his cooking skills. He said in a low voice, "That's great. It will also remind you to go home early."

Go home early.

As soon as the words came out, both of them were stunned for a moment.

At some point, Rongse's unfamiliarity with this place had completely worn off, and he instead developed a sense of belonging.

The two smiled at each other again. Liang Shenyu put a piece of glutinous rice lotus root in Rongse's bowl, chuckled and whispered, "I'll take note of this."

Although he spoke seriously and respectfully, his hand under the table actually touched Rongse's thigh.

Rong Se discovered that Liang Shenyu was truly lawless. Although he looked gentle and reserved, he actually did whatever he wanted, regardless of the situation. He would touch anyone he wanted, and was very unbridled.

"...I say, Lord Hou." Rong Se quietly reached out and pressed Liang Shenyu's wrist, then quietly moved his hand away. His face was smiling warmly, but his eyes clearly showed a warning, "Eat your meal well, I can handle it myself."

Liang Shenyu knew when to stop and withdrew his hands before angering the Regent.

The two interacted with each other in a familiar and intimate manner, without any reservations.

Rong Zhixu couldn't help but be stunned, always feeling that these two people were too close, but Yun Chu and Lan Ying were calm, as if it was supposed to be so. The eldest princess, who had never seen such a scene, had to remain silent.

She was in a depressed mood and naturally had no appetite, but after taking a sip of the lotus root and egg drop soup, her expression changed slightly.

The soup base is light and refreshing, and the dishes on the table are not greasy. The flavors are all just right. None of the chefs in the palace can make such dishes.

Last night Lan Ying said that the prince often went to the kitchen. Rong Zhixu believed it now, but still found it unbelievable.

After the meal was over and the servants were clearing away the tableware and serving tea and snacks, Rong Se looked at Rong Zhixu and said, "You should know everything about Concubine Wei."

Rong Zhixu knew that this was about to bring up serious matters, so she subconsciously clenched the teacup in front of her, lowered her eyes and bit her lip lightly.

"I will not interfere with your decision." Rong Se did not give her too much time to think. He said calmly in a factual tone, "If you want to go back, I will send you back, because even if you stay in the Xi family, no one can interfere with what I want to do. If you don't want to, I will order Xi Chaoyi to divorce you. You are still a little girl, and little girls should not get involved in this game. Xuanhe, tell me when you have made up your mind."

Knowing that Xu Wenya's tranquil expression was mixed with some sadness and hatred, she was silent for a moment, her eyes slightly red but she never shed tears.

"My mother's matter, Your Majesty..." Rong Zhiyi paused as she was about to say something. The wound on her body no longer hurt, but her heart was still aching. She tried to calm herself and asked, "Your Majesty knows everything, right?"

"You have to ask him in person." Rong Se shook his head. "No matter what, it's all my one-sided statement. But you should have seen that Rong Jing never treated you as a sister. Xuanhe, you must remember that the glory of a country is not achieved by the sacrifice of a woman. Similarly, the decline of a country cannot be blamed on a woman. It's just that the king wins and the bandits lose. Besides, Dajin has not fallen to the point where it needs to sacrifice you to please the Xi family. As long as you are willing, the Regent Palace will protect you."

No one had ever told Rong Zhixu this before. She paused, at a loss. All she knew was her responsibility as a princess.

And Rong Se told her that this responsibility was meaningless, she could have lived without such a life, she could be protected.

Rong Zhixu turned her head and saw Lan Ying looking at her encouragingly, her eyes bright and firm.

This is a girl raised by the Regent Prince's Mansion.

Rong Zhixu suddenly felt that there was no need to hesitate any longer, as the truth was right in front of him.

Light came through the window into the room. Rong Zhixu loosened his hands slightly and felt warmth in his palms.

In this Regent's Palace, which is said to be a den of dragons and tigers, she felt more relaxed and comfortable than ever before.

After a while, Rong Zhixu said softly: "I... don't want to go back."

She was afraid of the Xi family's mansion and hated that family even more.

Rong Se smiled with satisfaction, without saying anything more, and just nodded and said, "This king understands."

Fortunately, the little girl is not stupid enough to be stubborn and unrepentant.